Sulu award is not binding

THE Paris Court of Appeal had, on July 22 last year, stayed the enforcement of the final award in the claim laid by the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu against Malaysia for historical cession payments. The French court held that the award presented a risk of serious prejudice to the territorial sovereignty of Malaysia and that warranted a stay.

Despite the stay order on the US$15bil (RM68.6bil) award against Malaysia, the Sulu heirs, through their lawyer, have demanded the Malaysian government make immediate payment of the award, which now purportedly amounts to several million more with added interest and legal and arbitration fees (“AG lodges police report against Sulu heirs’ counsel over false claims”, The Star, June 2; online at bit.ly/star_sulupay).